Getting to work

Monday

Nov 5, 2012 at 6:00 AM

Tomorrow is Election Day, and polls continue to point to a very close race between President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney. We canít tell you whoís going to win, but we can say with certainty that whichever party prevails, the thrill will evaporate sometime Wednesday morning, when the victors realize that the nationís economic challenges have not been solved by the casting of ballots.

The latest Associated Press Economy Survey, which sounds out 31 experts on the likely course of things to come, finds that a weakening European economy will cost U.S. jobs. The failure thus far to address the coming combination of spending cuts and tax hikes is also high on the list of concerns.

And unless Mr. Obama or Mr. Romney deploys unexpectedly long coattails, it seems certain the House will remain in Republican hands, the Senate in Democratic ones. Thus, the next president will have to reach across the aisle to get much done.

Both Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney claim they can do just that. One of them is about to be put to the test.